Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff
Traffic is set to shift on Roosevelt Boulevard in Ocean City as reconstruction work continues on County Route 623 between the easterly bridge approach and Bay Avenue.
According to a notice of change in traffic patterns, the second stage of elevating the roadway is nearing completion, and the reconstructed section is expected to have base and intermediate asphalt courses in place by Wednesday, April 15.
The next visible change is scheduled to begin Thursday night, when removal starts on the existing concrete barrier curb that separates opposing traffic. As that barrier comes out, traffic will move to the center portion of the roadway. After the curb is fully removed, crews plan to install new centerline traffic stripes at the physical center of the road.
The notice states that drivers will continue to see one lane in each direction, but the travel lanes will be shifted around the roadway centerline, similar to the alignment used before construction. Eastbound and westbound traffic will continue as a single lane. An asphalt shoulder area will also be available for emergencies, though access to that area will be limited because it will be shielded by a drum line while the contractor continues work along the shoulders.
That traffic setup is expected to stay in place for about four weeks. During that time, the contractor is scheduled to begin preparing the site for final surface course paving, according to the notice.
The updated traffic pattern is expected to be in place by Friday morning. Once that setup is complete, construction activities are scheduled to continue during normal daytime working hours.
For drivers heading through the area, the main takeaway is that the work zone will remain active even after the barrier curb is removed and lanes are restriped. The project is not ending with this shift. It is moving into another phase tied to final paving preparations.
The notice urges motorists to proceed slowly through the work area and to use caution. With traffic narrowed to one lane in each direction and work continuing nearby, drivers should expect the Roosevelt Boulevard corridor to remain a construction zone for the next several weeks.
